Judge, 1916-12-16 · page 18 of 28
Judge — December 16, 1916 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a collection of international humor reprints, showcasing jokes from European publications (primarily German, French, and British). The page translates foreign-language cartoons for American readers, capturing early 20th-century social attitudes. **Key satirical themes:** - **Gender roles**: A wife jokes about becoming "superfluous" once washing machines arrive; a conductorette tired of being asked her age - **Class commentary**: A widow seeking romantic engagement; domestic servants' struggles - **WWI context**: "Blighty, Sweet Blighty!" depicts a British soldier (Tommy) on leave from trenches, finding comfort in familiar (even unpleasant) things like gas-works smell—dark humor about wartime reality - **Misidentification satire**: Parisians mistake vagabonds sheltering under bridges for bomb-plotters during wartime paranoia The cartoons reflect period concerns: mechanization threatening employment, aging anxieties, class distinctions, and wartime hysteria. The international selection suggests Judge's educated audience appreciated European wit.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
pre it bee the pul tire “ And to think that I discharged our maid ous because she broke a statuette!"—Le Rire bea (Pa 5 ‘i A cur Not a Talking Machine ae Mansfran Mein b img will Repartee Waschmaschine tion ge Witwe (im Begriff wieder zu Housewife—My husband is going to get m 1 3 sine be nen ceoen’ 5 a modern hing machine so that a wash- lish Nchriftsteller—Gnadige Prau auch, wie ich hortet woman will be entirely superfluous. you Young widow (about to be engaged again) _ Washvoman—Yes, but the machine won't &ss. Doctor? (Munich). tho Author—And you, too, L hear! —AMeggen- ima dorfer-Blactter (Munich) Manager of bus company—And so you want to leave? Conductorette—Not if you will put me on service 18. I'm tired of being asked if I'm 45!—London Opinion. ; L L : L | _ | Blighty, Sweet Blighty! “Pautsl qu'ils soient criminets! Ils font sauter les Tommy (home on leave after fifteen Ponts! . ( SS months in the trenches, and ready to praise “They must be criminals! They’re going = = NT =~ all familiar things)—Hey, Jimmy! Don’t — to blow up the bridges!”—Le Rire (Paris). I The Story of Helen and Hector —Sketch (London). the _gas-works smell lovely?—Sketch (London). (The piers of bridges form convenient re- treats for the vagabond in time of storm.) comicbooks.